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Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Obama's U.N. speech | Part 2

Alright, I'm calm. Just needed a breather. Let's continue. If you haven't yet I must insist you read Part 1 here as this continuation's context is provided in part 1.

That is what we saw play out the last two weeks, as a crude and disgusting
video sparked outrage throughout the Muslim world. I have made it clear that
the United States government had nothing to do with this video, and I
believe its message must be rejected by all who respect our common humanity.
It is an insult not only to Muslims, but to America as well – for as the
city outside these walls makes clear, we are a country that has welcomed
people of every race and religion. We are home to Muslims who worship across
our country. We not only respect the freedom of religion – we have laws that
protect individuals from being harmed because of how they look or what they
believe. We understand why people take offense to this video because
millions of our citizens are among them.

I know there are some who ask why we don’t just ban such a video. The answer
is enshrined in our laws: our Constitution protects the right to practice
free speech. Here in the United States, countless publications provoke
offense. Like me, the majority of Americans are Christian, and yet we do not
ban blasphemy against our most sacred beliefs. Moreover, as President of our
country, and Commander-in-Chief of our military, I accept that people are
going to call me awful things every day, and I will always defend their
right to do so. Americans have fought and died around the globe to protect
the right of all people to express their views – even views that we disagree
with.

We do so not because we support hateful speech, but because our Founders
understood that without such protections, the capacity of each individual to
express their own views, and practice their own faith, may be threatened. We
do so because in a diverse society, efforts to restrict speech can become a
tool to silence critics, or oppress minorities. We do so because given the
power of faith in our lives, and the passion that religious differences can
inflame, the strongest weapon against hateful speech is not repression, it
is more speech – the voices of tolerance that rally against bigotry and
blasphemy, and lift up the values of understanding and mutual respect.

I'm mixed on this particular segment. It is true to a point, the U.S. hasn't banned the video and they are protecting the authors freedom of speech. However, this policy isn't blanket.

There are no words that excuse the killing of innocents. There is no video
that justifies an attack on an Embassy. There is no slander that provides an
excuse for people to burn a restaurant in Lebanon, or destroy a school in
Tunis, or cause death and destruction in Pakistan.

However, I do believe that it is the obligation of all leaders, in all
countries, to speak out forcefully against violence and extremism. It is
time to marginalize those who – even when not resorting to violence – use
hatred of America, or the West, or Israel as a central principle of
politics. For that only gives cover, and sometimes makes excuses, for those
who resort to violence.

Alright, so you got that folks? All leaders must stand up against hate speech against the west and Israel. Now, what was that about a video again?

The rest of his speech on middle-east policies isn't really worthy of anymore mention here. Its the same old crap spun everyday, check through my blog for various points on this topic if curious on my stance, otherwise lets move on.

We know from painful experience that the path to security and prosperity does
not lie outside the boundaries of international law and respect for human
rights. That is why this institution was established from the rubble of
conflict; that is why liberty triumphed over tyranny in the Cold War; and
that is the lesson of the last two decades as well. History shows that peace
and progress come to those who make the right choices.

Sponsored by US and Pakistan
His power is founded on a personal fortune earned by his family's construction business in Saudi Arabia.

Attacks linked to Bin Laden

1993 World Trade Centre bomb

1996 Killing of 19 US soldiers in Saudi

Nairobi and Dar es Salaam bombs

2000 Attack on USS Cole in Yemen

Born in Saudi Arabia to a Yemeni family, Bin Laden left Saudi Arabia in
1979 to fight against the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
The Afghan jihad was backed with American dollars and had the blessing of the governments of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
He received security training from the CIA itself, according to Middle Eastern analyst Hazhir Teimourian.
While in Afghanistan, he founded the Maktab al-Khidimat (MAK),
which recruited fighters from around the world and imported equipment to
aid the Afghan resistance against the Soviet army.
Egyptians, Lebanese, Turks and others - numbering thousands in Bin
Laden's estimate - joined their Afghan Muslim brothers in the struggle
against an ideology that spurned religion.

Remember, THAT is one reason why *liberty* triumphed over tyranny. Peace? How's that decade long war going for ya?

Nations in every part of the world have travelled this hard path. Europe - the
bloodiest battlefield of the 20th century – is united, free and at peace.
From Brazil to South Africa; from Turkey to South Korea; from India to
Indonesia; people of different races, religions, and traditions have lifted
millions out of poverty, while respecting the rights of their citizens and
meeting their responsibilities as nations.

Peace and freedom at last? I could literally just continue listing links here on this one, in regards to all mentioned countries. Once again though, I encourage you to just browse my blog as plenty of examples are available.

At a time of economic challenge, the world has come together to broaden
prosperity. Through the G-20, we have partnered with emerging countries to
keep the world on the path of recovery. America has pursued a development
agenda that fuels growth and breaks dependency, and worked with African
leaders to help them feed their nations. New partnerships have been forged
to combat corruption and promote government that is open and transparent.
New commitments have been made through the Equal Futures Partnership to
ensure that women and girls can fully participate in politics and pursue
opportunity. And later today, I will discuss our efforts to combat the
scourge of human trafficking.

But what gives me the most hope is not the actions of leaders – it is the
people I’ve seen. The American troops who have risked their lives and
sacrificed their limbs for strangers half a world away. The students in
Jakarta and Seoul who are eager to use their knowledge to benefit humankind.
The faces in a square in Prague or a parliament in Ghana who see democracy
giving voice to their aspirations. The young people in the favelas of Rio
and the schools of Mumbai whose eyes shine with promise. These men, women
and children of every race and every faith remind me that for every angry
mob that gets shown on television, there are billions around the globe who
share similar hopes and dreams. They tell us that there is a common
heartbeat to humanity.

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Richard Fantin is a self-taught software developer who has mostly throughout his career focused on financial applications and high frequency trading. He currently works for eQube gaming systems.

Nazayh Zanidean is a Project Coordinator for a mid-sized construction contractor in Calgary, Alberta. He enjoys writing as a hobby on topics that include foreign policy, international human rights, security and systemic media bias.